SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in state prison today for attempted murder and animal cruelty after attacking a woman in her 70s and her small dog while they were out walking in Irvine. Craig Andrew Ledbetter, 52, Irvine, pleaded guilty today, Oct. 28, 2016, to one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of elder and dependent adult abuse, one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor count of resisting and obstructing an officer, and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury to an elder.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2015, the victim was walking her small dog on a leash in an Irvine neighborhood. Ledbetter screamed in her direction and pushed her to the ground. The defendant got on top of the victim and punched her in the face and chest. Ledbetter stood up and repeatedly kicked the victim in the head. He took the victim’s small dog by the leash and swung the dog over his shoulder.

Witnesses called 911 and the Irvine Police Department, who investigated this case, responded to the scene. Ledbetter resisted the police officers but was subsequently arrested. The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for bleeding in the brain, a dislocated left arm, and eye injuries, among other injuries sustained in the attack. The victim’s small dog was not physically injured.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Duke of the Family Protection Unit prosecuted this case.